The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-04-13
THE PYRAMID OF SKULLS.
A CHASTITY SCENE ON AN ISLAND
OFF THE AFRICAN COAST.
Twenty-Five Thousand Human skulls
Piled mp on the Sands-How
They Came There.


Piled up on the Sands-How
They Came There.
The Church of St. Ursula, containing
the bones of eleven thousand virgins who
were massacred by the Huns, is a cham
Der of horrors that few can resist on reach
ing Cologne. Near the roadside on one
of the Balkan passes, however, is an i'm
mense structure built by the Turks con-
tanning thirty thousand Christian skulls.
Tim0ur left many similar trophies of his
bloody reign in the deserts of Central
Asia; but in point Of hideous and grim
austerity no relic of barbaric ages out
vies the Tower of Skulls on Jerbeh, most
ghastly mausoleum of the dead.
The Isle of Jcrbeh is a patch Of sand
lying of the coast of Africa near Tunis.
Its history is little known in these days.
No tourist thinks of stopping there, and
few know of its existence on the map.
But occasionally q traveller returns from
the East who has seen the Tower of Skulls
and has read a forgotten page of worlds
history. BE has heard Of the horrible
massacre which occurred there three cen
turies ago On deck of the little steamer
headed for Tripoh the grim monument is
often pointed out by an Arabs bony hn-
ger, as with many tragic gesture he
tells the tale of the Saracen butchery
which the tower commentaries No less
than twenty-five thousand skulls are up
piled here on the yellow sands. The
tower rises in a pyramidal form until it
stands out in clear relief against the skv.
It's face, cemented with clay, has been
partly decomposed by the action of the
%l,,s ~.
compact mass of grinning skulls, grouped
on a trestle-work of ribs and thigh bones,
may be seen through the open spaces
where the structure has crumbled away.
In 1861 a Spanish feet left Malta to
conquer Tripoi. 1t was under the COM
mand Of the daring Count Ia Cerda, who
was sent out by Philip H., of Spain. As
favorable breezes bore them on, riotous
scenes of drinking and hilarity prevailed
under the very shadow of the cross, which
emblem had been reared aloft as an augur
of victory. On shipboard of the little
armada, amid much testing, and dicing,
and clanking of swords, deep potations
were drunk to the health Of King Philip,
in whose honor it was proposed TO set up
on the sands of Africa the rOval ensign
of Spain. But an ominous cloud brooded
over the dissolute army of La Cerda. On
nearing Tripoh it was discovered that
they needed heavier guns to lombard the
city. A detachment was at once sent
back to Malta in a galley for suitable
arms. In the meanwhile Jerbeh was
sighted, and the order was given to de-
scend upon the ." Saracen dogs, seize
their chattels and burn their homes. A
fierce havoc ensued. Women and children
fell under the sword. One of the Spanish
leaders, Juan de Ia Saera, led on
his men until their hands were
reeking with blood. Sated at last,
they staggered in drunken delirium
through the city Of Gerba with many a
shout and pean of victory, while the af-
frighted inhabitants who had escaped
with their lives fed in dismay. Hundreds
Of the Spaniards sank in stupor in the
streets Of the deserted city to sleep off
their potions. But the Saracen chief, /
Yokdah. was wide awake. 4 clangOr
rang out through the night air. Incited
by the avenging spirit Of Yokdah, the
Saracens seized their swords, and with
the cry ''Allah ackbarn God is victor
ious) fell upon the drunken foe. Ia the
slaughter that followed all perished who
did not leap into the sea. The Span
iards, being put TO the worst, sought to
hy unto their ships; but even thither did
the inhdels pursue them, raging like saw
age wolves. The fight was waged in dark
ness amid the waves Of the sea-a thing
unthOUght of heretofore. And with such
rage did they grapple one another that
many sank and were drowned thus locked
together, refusing TO quit their hold" A
great many were borne down BY the weight
of their armor as they flung themselves
into the sea. The flashing cimetor did
Its work Of destruction with such deadly
effect that not a single foe escaped. The
last to die was Juan de la Saera. He had al
most gained his ship when a Saracen crap
pied him and would have put an end TO his
life, but Tokdah. with a fierce yell. cried
out: Harm him not; l keep him for
my prize. With much struggling on
the part Of his captOrs, who had breasted
the waves 70 seize him alive. he was
dragged back 20 the shore. The battle
was then over, the Saracens gathered the
heads Of those who were slain and built
them into a tower. Saera was tortured.
beheaded, and his skull laid on the sum-
NIT Of the pile by Yokdah, as being a tit
ting crown TO the monument
The Isle Of Jerbeh contains a triumphal
arch IN honor Of Ant0ninus, the bitter foe
Of Christianity, and his father, Verus.
Some years ago IL was well-known in the
East for its manufacture Of shawls Other
industries thrive in Jerbeh. where tropical
fruits are cultivated, and in the shade Of
the palm spicy OdOrs float on the breeze;
but its chief interest viii always be asso-
ciated with the vengeance Of Yokdah and
his pyramid Of skulls.-Ass0 York Oh
serrer.